Liquid-vending machine



Feb. 25, 1930. F. I. DU PO NT LIQUID VENDINGMACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 27, 1924 re n WIT/V585 Frame/3.]: 02:7??715 BY 6 I ATTORNEYS.

Feb. 25, 1930. F. DU PONT 1,748,471 LIQUID VENDING MACHINE Filed May 27, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ill/I ///j/ a I f6 //I//////A Y\\\ FIG j A 4 H6. 3.

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i5 coin is inserted at the proper time.

a Patented Feb. 25, 1930 PATENT OFFICE FRANCIS I. DU PORT, OF WILMINGTON,

, LIQUID-VENDING uncnmn Application filed my 27, 1924. Serial No. 716,105.

The object of my invention is to provide a coin-controlled machine adafited'to be erated to deliver a volume of liquid according to the value of the coin which is adapted to be inserted in the machine. The invention is especially applicable to the vending of gasoline and I have described, as a preferred embodiment of my invention, a machine adapted to permit the delivery of a definite 10 quantity of gasoline after a twenty-five cent plece has been mserted in the machine, said machine comprising manually operable mechanism which insures the delivery oisuch definite quantity of gasoline if a prgpei a1 manually operable mechanism comprises means to pump the specified quantity, and no more, of gasoline into a receptacle prior to the operation of the coin-controlled mechanism, and manually operable means to effeet the delivery of the gasoline after the operation of the coin-controlled mechanism,

' The invention is not limited, in its application, to the delivery of gasoline, but is usable, or readily adaptable, to effect the delivery of any other liquid that is ordinarily purchased by liquid measure.

Tn the rawings: Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional elevation of the machine.

Fig. 2 is a similar-view at right angles to Fig. 1, the upper part of the machine, however, not being in section.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the supplemental casing and the coin-actuated and controlled mechanism attached to and contained therein, the coin holding and conveying slide being in retracted position to Q is a section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 8 is a detail sectional view ofa contrivance for preventing the permanent accumulation of liquid in the delivery receptacle.

The casing a has near its lower end a partition 12, forming above it a chamber for the pump, pipes, and some of the actuating mechanism. The main chamber is closed at the top by a head 0, which together with an inverted glass vessel mounted thereon, form a receptacle cl for the gasoline, oil or other liquid to be delivered.

The receptacle. olisin communication with the enlarged upper end of a supply pipe 0, which extends down through the main chamber and partition 6 into a gasoline reservoir (not shown), which is below ground level. A check valve 7 is located at the enlarged upper end of the pipe e and allows air or gasoline to flow upwardly through the pipe 70 into receptacle dbut prevents back flow of air or asoline through the pipe.

Auot er ipe 9 extends vertically in the main cham er and'has mounted thereon a pipe h, which extends through head a into receptacle d. The pipe 7:. is adjustable vertically on pipe 9 for a purpose to be hereinafter explained. I

The lower end of pipe g connectswith a manifold i, on which are mounted three'vertical pipes is communicating respectively with three ports 0 opening respectively into three pump cylinders m. Within pipes I: are check valves 9', which allow the passage of fluid (air or gasoline) from pipe 9 into the ump cylinders but prevent the return 'of uid into pipe 9. Extending laterally from ports 0 are ports 1), which have check valves q allowing fluid toflow out into the main chamber of the casing but preventing return flow of fluid. The pump pistons a have connecting rods 1' attached to a common crank shaft 8 turnable by a hand-operated crank lever 1?. While three pump cylinders and pistons are shown, the machine is operable with one or more.

Assuming that the receptacle d is empty and that the pumps are operated: 0n the. upstroke of the pump pistons, air is exhausted from the receptacle d through pipes h and g,

manifold 71, pipes 70 and portso into the pump cylinders. On the down stroke of the piston, air is expelled from the pump cylinders through ports 0 and ;0 into the main chamber.

pump cylinders and then discharged through port p into the main chamber of the casing. At this timethe pump is acting as a gasoline pump. The gasoline discharged into the main chamber flows through pipe u back into the oil reservoir.

Receptacle d is in communication with the upper end of a tubular chamber '0, from which extends a downwardly inclined discharge pipe w, through which the gasoline in the receptacle may be delivered to the customer. Normally, however, a spring-pressed valve as prevents such discharge. The delivery of gasolinecan be effected only by forcibly pulling down the stemof valve w. This may be effected by turning a shaft 3 by means of a hand operable crank z. Shaft y has a crank 10 attached to a rod 11 which slides vertically in a guide 12 on the casing and'carries at its upper end a nose 13 slidable on the stem of valve 92- and adapted, in its downward move ment, to engage a projection 14 on the valve stem and, by drawing the stem down, unseat valve :12, thereby opening the passa e for outflow-of gasoline from receptacle The existence of a partial vacuum above the body of gasoline in receptacle (1 would,

however, prevent the free discharge of gasoline from receptacle d if some means were not provided to relieve the vacuum. Branching from pipe g is a pipe 15 having a downwardly opening end normally closed by a valve 16. This valve has secured to it an arm 17 which is connected, by a link 18, with an arm 19 on shaft 3/. In the turning of shaft y to effect the described opening of valve :12, arm 19, through link 18 and arm 17, opens valve 16. Owing to the large, outlet area afforded by the opening of valve 16 and the comparatively small volume of gasoline in the column above valve 16, this column rapidly drains out, thus relieving the vacuum in the receptacle and permitting a free outflow of gasoline therefrom through chamber '12 and pipe w.

Shaft 3 is normally locked against movement by means of mechanism located in a supplemental casing 23 and comprising a latch 20 which engages a recess in a frame-21 secured to shaft y. Latch 20 is vertically slidable in a guide 22 and may be raised to release frame 21 entirely and permit the shaft to be turned. Latch 20 is raised by the coin-actuated mechanism that will now be described. I

Projecting out from the casing 23 is a ledge 30 having side guides 31. A slide 32 rests on the ledge between said guides and extends through a slot in the casing 23 and has at its inner end an upturned flange 33, which, by its engagement with the inner wall of casing 23, limits the outward movement of the slide. The slot inthe casing 23 is of just sufficient height to afford the slide' a neat sliding fit therein. Near its inner end,the slide is provided with a hole 35, which is of a size adapted to receive a coin 100 of the size (preferably) of a twenty-five cent piece or smaller. The thickness of the slide should .not substantially exceed the thickness of a freshly minted coin of the denomination specified. The coin 100 should be placed in the hole 35 and the slide pushed in (by means of the outer upturned flange .34) thereby carrying the coin into the casing 23.

As the slide 32 is pushed in, it carries the coin along and over the edge of a'table 36 onto a coin receiver 40. The table. 36 is providcd with a hole 37. Beneath the hole 37 is a chute 38 communicating with a slot 39 in the casing 23. Y Any coin smaller than a twenty-five cent piece will drop through the hole 37 onto chute 38 and slot 39. r

If the hole 35' were perfectly circular, it might be possible for a smaller coin, say a nickel five cent piece, to override the hole 37 (which is not necessarily of greater width than the diameter of such smaller coin). By slightly enlarging the hole 35 at the rear and toward one side of the slide and giving to that part of the hole an arcuate form adapted to the reception of a five-cent piece or a smaller coin, such smaller coin will slip back into that part of the hole, in the forward projection of the slide, and one edge thereof will override the hole 37 and necessarily tilt sidewi'se and drop through the hole in the transit of hole 35 thereover. r

The inward movement of slide 32 is arrested by the engagement of flange 33 with a fixed stop 41. In this position of the slide, hole 35 overlies the receiver 40, as above stated, and the coin is deposited thereon. The receiver is suspended from one end of a chain 42, which extends about a pulley 43 and has its other end secured to the latch 20.

The weight of the latch 20 plus the weight of the length of chain on the corresponding side of the pulley 43 is substantially greater than the weight of the receiver 40 plus the weight of the remaining length of chain and is only slightly less than the latter weight plus the weight of the coin. Hence a disc of the diameter of a twenty-five cent piece, but of substantially less weight (as, for example, an annular washer) will not depress the receiver, and the shaft :1 will remain locked. Assuming, however, that the proper coin has been deposited on the receiver and that the latter drops and lifts, the latch 20, as described, the customer now, by means of handle 2, turns shaft'y, thereby effecting the unsea't-ing of valve m and allowing the gasoline in receptacle d to discharge through pipe w, as hereinbefore described.

,Frame 21 is connected, by means of a link 24, with a bracket on a coin ejector 25 slidable on a support 26 secured to the inner wall of casing 23. In the described turning movement of shaft 3 to open valve w, frame 21, through link 24, pulls ejector 25 to the right, Figs. 3 and 7. At-thistime, the coin on the lowered receiver 40 is on a level with the ejector and is pushed thereby off the receiver and drops down to the bottom of casing 23."

After receptacle d has been drained of its oil the return of shaft 3 to its normal position brings the latch engaging recess in frame 21 into alignment with latch 20, and the latch drops, restoring the receiver 40 to its normal position.

It is not necessary, however, for the customer to restore shaft y to its normal position. When the shaft y is moved into position to open valve :12, an arm/51 on the shaft is moved into the path of movement of an extension on one of the pump connecting rodsm (see Fig. 1). As soon as the pump is started, extension 50 pushes arm 51 and thereby returns shaft 1 to its normal latched position. In

case a customer seeks to defraud .the machlne by pumping gasoline into the receptacle d whilethe valve :0. is open, he will immediately (through arms 50 and 51) rock shaft 3 and close valve :v and thereby shut off the outflow of gasoline from receptacle d.

' It will be understood that, in order to se-' cure the delivery of gasoline from the machine, the pump must be operated to suck gasoline into receptacle (1 before the coincontrolled mechanism isv operated. The pump, therefore, is operable at any time, and if it is not followed by the insertion of a'coin and the pushing of the coin slide, the gasoline would remain in receptacle (1 an indefinite time without special means to guard against it; that is, it would remain in receptacle duntil the operation of the coin-comtrolled mechanism. This, however, is objectionable; and certain State laws prohibit the use of machines in which a volume of gasoline is visibly exposed for more than a certain reasonable period of time. To guard against this condition, I have provided a bleed pipe (see Fig. 8) the top of which communicateswith the bottom of receptacle (1. The bottom of pipe 60 connects with an L-shaped channel 62 in a block 61. The end of channel 62 opens upward intoa recess in the block 61. Resting on the lower face of this recess, channel 62, is a light valve 63 adapted to be raised by the static pressure of liquid in the in position to close the'm'outh of receptacle d and pipe 60. The valve slides on a stem 64 secured to an adjustingscrew 65 threaded in block 61. This valve, however, will not lift so long as there is any substantial partial vacuum in 'receptaclerd. To break the vacuum, I provide the pipe 9 (opposite pipe 15) with a needle valve 66 (Fig. 1)

which is adjusted to allow a very slow flow of air into receptacle (1, which soon reduces the vacuum to the extent required to allow the static pressure in receptacle (1 and pipe 60 to lift valve 63 off its seat and allow t e gasoline to drain out into the interior of the chamber.

The ,capacity of valve 63 can beadjusted so that the gasoline in the transparentchamber will flow out as slowly as may be desired. Suppose, forexample, it is adjusted so that one-half hour .will be required While this is so small as to be almost unmeasurable, to be sure that the customer does not get short measure, the graduations on the gauge can be put on in such a way as to make ample allowance for this.

Inasmuch as the price of gasoline more or less fluctuates, it is clear that some provi- Q sion must be made to vary the storage .ca-

pacity of receptacle (1. This can be done very simply by vertical adjustment of pipe h, thereby lifting or lowering the overflow level in receptacle d.

Extending from frame 21 on shaft 3 is a link 27 (see Fig. 3) adapted tooperate an indicator 28 which is visible to the operator through opening 29 in the casing.

The coin controlled locking -mechanism disclosed is not claimed herein since it forms the subject matter of a divisional application, Serial Number 6,178, filed February 2, 1925.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim and desire to protect by Letters vPatent is:

1. The combination with a delivery receptacle having a predetermined maximum capacity, of means adapted to exhaust said receptacle to fill said receptacle to its capacity with liquid, means to effect delivery of liquid from said receptacle, a bleed pipe extending from said receptacle and operable to slowly withdraw liquid from said. re.-

ceptacle, and means providing for slow leakage of air into said receptacle.

2. The combination with a delivery recepair from tacle having a predetermined maximum ca pacity,of means adapted to exhaust air from said receptacle .to fill said receptacle to its capacity with liquid, means to effect delivery ,of liquid from said receptacle, a bleed pipe depending from said receptacle, a valve tending to close the discharge from' said pipe against the static pressure therein and in the receptacle, and means providing for slow leakage of air into said receptacle for the purpose of breaking down the vacuum and allowing said static pressure to build up and open said valve. 1 3. The combination with a receptacle having a predetermined liquid retaining capacity, ofmeans arranged to fill said receptacle with liquid to such capacity from a supply and return to the supply surplus liquid entering said receptacle, and means operative to first return to the supply from the receptacle any surplus liquid above said predetermined capacity remaining after the operation of said first named means and then effect delivery of the contents of said receptacle.

4. The combination with a receptacle having a predeterminedliquid retaining capacity, of a conduit communicating at one end. with said receptacle and at its other end with a supply of liquid, means for exhausting fluid into said receptacle from the supply through said conduit and for returning to the supply surplus liquid entering said receptacle, and means operative to first return to the supply from the receptacle any surplus liquid above said predeterminedcapacity remaining after the operation of said first named means and then efl'ect delivery of the contents of said receptacle. m 5. In a liquid dispensing apparatus, a liquid-aretaining rece tacIe normally substan .t i'zlly c sed to the atmosphere, a conduit open at ne end to the interior of said receptacle, a valve for normally closing said conduit below its open end, a second valve having connections on one side with said receptacle and on the other side with the atmos phere and located at a level intermediate the levels of the open end of the conduit and the first valve, and means for simultaneously opening said valves, whereby, if liquid fills said conduit and receptacle to a level above the open end of said conduit and the valves are opened, liquid will, fiow through said first valve while air will enter said second valve until the level of liquid in said receptacle falls to the level of the open end of the conduit and then air will enter said first valve and liquid will flow out through said second valve whereby a predetermined amount of liquid will be delivered from said second valve irrespective of the initial level of liquid in the receptacle.

6. In a liquid dispensing apparatus, a liqe5 uid retaining receptacle normally substanfrom said receptacle to cause liquid to flow tially closed to the atmosphere, means for filling said receptacle from a supply of liquid with a predetermined quantity of liquid, means to permit the slow influx of air into said receptacle and slow outflow of liquid therefrom to the supply to cause the emptying of said receptacle within a predetermined time, said last means being continuously op- 

